CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Investment bank George K. Baum & Company ("GKB") announced today that it has expanded its nationwide presence by opening a public finance office in Charlotte, NC. David Adams, the newly appointed Senior Vice President for GKB's Southeastern public finance office, will focus on broadening opportunities for the Firm throughout the region. With significant experience in both governmental and not-for-profit banking, Mr. Adams will bring George K. Baum & Company's 'client-first' philosophy and execution platform to local borrowers. His extensive experience in education finance will be integrated into the Firms existing practices, resulting in immediate service opportunities for colleges and universities in the Southeast. His technical approach has led to creative transactions for a range of borrowers such as Davidson College, the University of South Florida, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Mississippi College, North Carolina State University, High Point University and the University of Tampa.

"We're excited to add a highly qualified professional to our public finance team," said George K. Baum & Company Chairman and CEO Jonathan E. Baum. "David is a perfect fit to lead our growing public finance practice in the Southeast and will be a tremendous asset to the firm, "said Baum.

About Mr. Adams
Mr. Adams has 23 years of experience in the not-for-profit finance sector, including 18 years of banking experience in the municipal industry. He has served borrowers across the Southeast during this time, where he has developed a solid reputation in education, utility and general governmental finance. His client base includes credits ranging from the very highest in the country to those requiring extensive negotiations to gain investor confidence in the transactions he administers. Mr. Adams served for five years as the CFO and COO of a not-for-profit, cultural organization in Charlotte. By combining his in-depth knowledge of public finance and not-for-profits, Mr. Adams approaches higher education challenges from operations, finance, development and programmatic angles. He currently serves as a board member for the YMCA of Greater Charlotte (Johnson) and a finance committee member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his MBA from the Babcock School at Wake Forest University.

About George K. Baum & Company
Founded more than 84 years ago in Kansas City, MO, George K. Baum & Company, is one of the nation's most experienced privately held investment banks. Staffed with more than 200 professionals, the company has 16 offices nationwide. GKB has underwritten bond issues for third-party owners of housing for students of such southeastern institutions as Johnson & Wales University's Charlotte campus, University of West Florida, Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina – Pembroke, University of North Carolina A&T, Georgia State University, University of Georgia, Delta State University in Mississippi and the University of Central Florida in Orlando. George K. Baum & Company has also been involved with many types of capital projects including: Local Government, Independent, Public K-12 and Charter Schools, Colleges and Universities. GKB's Southeast private college and independent school issuers include: The Bolles School, The Lovett School, Mercer University, Palmer Trinity School, Providence Day School, Rollins College and Young Harris College.

George K. Baum & Company is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, CRD number 36354.

SOURCE George K. Baum & Company